Current Vintage
2007 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot
Three Palms Vineyard
Harvest Notes
The 2007 growing season began early and was unusually dry, with rainfall totals that were 50 percent below average. Cool spring weather continued into the summer with temperatures down by approximately 5 degrees from August through October. The cool, steady weather produced a long harvest spread out over 80 days. This relaxed pace allowed us to pick in multiple passes, ensuring ideal ripening and flavor development in the fruit.
Comments from the Winemaker
Three Palms Vineyard is legendary in the world of California Merlot. A warm site with free-draining soils, Three Palms consistently delivers focused red-fruit flavors balanced by signature minerality. A classic expression of Three Palms, this wine begins with enticing aromas of chocolate-covered cherries, earth, ginger spice and graham cracker pie crust before revealing a core of red-fruit dominated flavors highlighting red currant and sweet cherry. Supported by a broad, rich entry and additional layers of blueberry, plum, cardamom and coffee, this powerful Merlot has firm, robust tannins and will benefit from decanting or additional aging.
Varietal Content
93% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot
Harvest Information
Appellation: Napa Valley
Harvest Dates: August 23 – October 25, 2007
Average Sugar at Harvest: 25.6 degrees Brix
Cooperage
100% French oak château-style barrels (60 gallons)
Barrel Aging: 18 Months
Age of Barrels: 99% New
Technical Data
Alcohol: 14.5%
Titratable Acidity: 0.58 g/100ml
pH: 3.55
Bottled: July 2009
Released: April 2010